Moby Dick A metaphysical adventure by Herman Melville
Coordinator: Alan Zuckerman Email [email protected] Cell – 608-216-5496 Monday afternoons: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Dates: September 28 to November 30, 2020
I hope that you will join me and a group of PLATO shipmates on a journey to read, explore, enjoy and discuss Herman Melville’s classic novel “MOBY DICK.” Each time I read Moby Dick, I discover new insights about spirituality, adventure, people and nature. Melville’s language, characters and descriptions of whaling fascinate me. I am looking forward to reading with a diverse group of people, each of whom bring their own perspective and make the journey richer for all of us. This will not be a lecture class. Rather we will read some of the passages out loud and enjoy Melville’s language and thoughts about life. We will engage with the vibrant characters on board the Pequod: the obsession of Ahab, the relationship between Ishmael and Queequeg, the mates and harpooners. We will also learn a great deal about whales and the whaling industry. Symbolism is an important device of Melville. Hopefully it will provoke individual and lead to lively informative discussion. This is our class and each of us will contribute based on our personal perspective. This course outline: 1. Assigns readings for each week. (The plan is to finish the book in 10 weeks) 2. Identifies passages which we will read aloud and discuss 3. Highlight some of the events in the weekly reading 4. Participants are encouraged to identify passages for reading and raise questions for discussion each week. Sept 28– Reading from Chapter 1 Loomings to Chapter 9 The Sermon Introduction of each participant – Have you read Moby Dick before? What is your experience with oceans? Why are you taking course? Organization of class – The South African philosophy of UBUNTU I am because of you. Each reader’s perspective of Moby Dick is unique and legitimate. We will learn from each person’s perspective. Some themes to be explored during the course Transcendentalism and God Race and dignity of man Obsession and revenge The Whale and whaling The lure of the sea
1 Moby Dick, 2020 Fall Online Course Syllabus Some discussion questions: Why does Ishmael go to sea? What is the relationship between Ishmael and Queequeg? What is the message of Father Mapple’s sermon? Notable Quotation – “Ignorance is the parent of fear”
October 5 – Chapters 9- 23 The relationship of Queequeg and Ishmael grows The Lee shore – foreshadowing Melville describes their different culture perspectives and rituals - The stories of the wheelbarrow and the punchbowl What is the whaling business practices? The ship and its owners, captain – negotiation of wages Melville’s commentary on religions and the Hypocrisy of “Quakerism” Written in 1851, why and how does Melville make race an important part of the story. Melville’s use of Symbolism and foreshadowing – Chap. 19 - The Prophet The Advocate – Melville comments on the dignity of work/whaling
October 12 Chapters 24 - 40 - Introduction of Characters – The diversity is deliberate and important Starbuck’s courage Stubb’s easy going and unfearing Flask - no reverence pugnacious Queequeg – tattooed, regal, pacific Islander Tashtego – Indian from Gayhead, a daring harpooner Daggoo – gigantic Negro How do we meet Ahab? Chap.28 - Bronzed, branded, obsessed October 19 - Chapters 41 – 54 The Whiteness of the whale Chapt 42
2 Moby Dick, 2020 Fall Online Course Syllabus What does Melville say about God and religion? Ships in the middle of the ocean What is the mystery of The Fedallah? We meet PIP? What are Queequeg’s church credential and harpooner test Melville is a student of whales
October 26 - Chapters 51 to 70 Have you seen the white Whale? Ahab’s fixation on white whale Town Ho story The mutiny, flogging and sighting Moby Dick Steelkilt and Cannalers The first hunt Killing the first whale Stubb and the Cook Fleece Harvesting the Whale
November 2 – Chapters 70 – 84 Ahab and the Whales head Jereboam, Gabriel Macey is dead and the letter Sperm and Right whale head Queequeg to the rescue of Tashtego Pequad and the Virgin 2 boats one whale Chap. 81 Perseus, the first whale man Jonah and the Whale November 9 - Chapters 85 – 99
3 Moby Dick, 2020 Fall Online Course Syllabus More about whales Chapter 87 We learn how Whales stay below surface for more than 1 hour The armada of whales and chase of Malays A young whale attached to its mother Chap. 88 - Schools and schoolmasters Meeting the Rosebud Ambergris The Castaway - PIP Chapt 93 Chap. 99 The Doubloon – It’s meaning to main characters
November 16 - Chapters 100 – 114 Chapter 100 - Ahab and British Captain who lost an arm P. 648 - Grief, Joy and loss of the leg AHAB and the carpenter - Who can fix anything, a leg, a new person? Stubbs comments on AHAB’s leg P 662 Leaky barrels, Starbuck and Ahab Beware of Ahab Chap. 110 Queequegs coffin PIPS incantations Death AND Free will - Queequeg P671 Chap. 113 Forging an harpoon tempered with blood
November 23 - Chapters 115 – 124 Chap. 116 The Batchelor a joyous ship, Pequid grave Chap. 117 = The Parsee tells Ahab he can only die by Hemp Chao. 118 - The Quadrent = denouncing science P.702 & 703 The typhoon, the flaming harpoon & Starbuck confronting Ahab to abandon the quest Chapter 123 = The Musket = Staruck and mutiny/ kill or restrain Ahab
4 Moby Dick, 2020 Fall Online Course Syllabus Chapter 124 = The compass fails and Ahab demonstrates his power over the elements, the ship and crew. Stay on course. Week 9 - Chapters 125 -135 Chap. 125 quadrant, compass and line fail and Anab claims he can fix them Pip is overboard and Ahab recues and takes him to his cabin P 727-The blacksmith maker of legs, coffins and lifebuoys as unprincipled as Gods P 733 - The Rachel has seen Moby Dick and Ahab refuses to search for lost boat with Captains son. Obsession and human cruelty P 735 Ahab and PIP - why does Ahab protect him? The Hawk takes Ahab’s Hat The ship Delight reports losing 5 crew to Moby Dick Starbuck beseeches Ahab to go home. Moby Dick is sighted Moby Dick attacks and sinks Ahab’s boat The Chase 783 Starbuck and Ahab - the final confrontation November 30 - Conclusion What did we take away from the Book, the course and each other. What ideas or lessons from Melville that apply to our lives today?
5 Moby Dick, 2020 Fall Online Course Syllabus